Warrant Officer Bob Moffat has celebrated a remarkable milestone of 40 years in the service of the Royal Air Force.

Bobby, as he is affectionately known, was mechanical transport officer at RAF Wittering for eight years before becoming a full time reservist as the station community support officer.

Service and civilian personnel turned out in droves to attend the celebration lunch, held in the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess at Royal Air Force Wittering, and congratulate Mr Moffat on an outstanding military career.

Mr Moffat joined the Royal Air Force in 1975, completing his basic training at RAF Swinderby and then trade training at RAF Halton, where he qualified as a driver. His subsequent career saw tours of duty at home and across the globe.

A driver and transport officer throughout his regular career; 40 years’ worth of annual reports regularly point to Mr Moffat’s outstanding professionalism and personable leadership style.

A long career in the Royal Air Force means friends in high places. Air Vice Marshal Richard Knighton, former Station Commander and now Assistant Chief of the Air Force, was among the guests at Mr Moffat’s top table and gave a short address.

The guests dug deep and raised £615 for Worldwide Cancer Research, a charity supported by Bob and his wife of 42 years, Janice.

Wing Commander Lizzy Nicholl, Officer Commanding Support Wing at RAF Wittering, said: “Throughout 40 impeccable years Warrant Officer Moffat has touched the lives of so many, he epitomises the best values and highest traditions of our service.”

Warrant Officer Moffat said: “It was absolutely fabulous, people came from Cyprus, France and Germany just to be here; and to have the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff do a speech for you was an honour indeed.”